Enron trial jurors will not hear all defendants' salaries

[JURIST] The judge presiding over the trial of four former Merrill Lynch bankers and two Enron executives Wednesday ruled that jurors could only hear the salaries of three of the Merrill Lynch defendants. Prosecutors had argued that jurors should be allowed to see the salaries, including that of one former Merrill Lynch executive who earned $10 million in 1999, but District Judge Ewing Werlein ruled that the salaries were not relevant if they were not tied to the barge transaction at the center of the case. Ewing admitted the salaries of three of the Merrill Lynch bankers on trial, James A. Brown, Robert Furst and William Fuhs, all of which were under $1 million. Closing arguments in the case began today and will continue Thursday. The Houston Chronicle has background on the trial. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of the Enron corporate scandal. AP has more.

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